So we skipped Monday as we crossed the International Dateline and it was now Fat Tuesday, better known as Mardi Gras. The crew had been madly working on some huge project in the mid-pool area, we'd been blocked from entering since midday. We waited for 5pm just outside the door next to a crepe station--it smelled terrific as the cook warmed up his griddle.  

We grabbed a table near the band and on the balcony of the paddlewheel boat that had been built over the pool. We invited a friend from diving and his wife to share the table.

The king and queen of Mardi Gras were selected from submitted applications.  After sitting for photos, they led a parade around the pool and many people joined in strutting to "When the Saints Go Marching In." 

We sailed into Sydney in the morning and our travel guide provided commentary and background along the way.  Dean perched himself on the railing  on the highest deck so he could take unobstructed photos in any direction.

We entered the harbor between two high bluffs with the city glistening in the early light.

 Sydney Harbor is huge and has a number of branches. We passed several of these quaint mid-channel markers.  The people on the boats gathered near this one were fishing. >>

And then we turned the corner to reveal the icons of Sydney. At first glance we see the Opera House, and the huge bridge, but there is more...

Notice the ibises.

As beautiful as the scenery is, one of the big attractions in the gardens are the flying foxes. They are large fruit and flower-eating bats. We spotted them in the morning, but we'd heard that they all fly together in the evening, so we decided to head back to the ship, have lunch, put our feet up for a while, and then come back. 

  On the way back to the ship we walked around the Sydney Opera House at the far end of the gardens.

The view from the steps of the opera house looking back toward Circular Cay where another cruise ship is docked 
and a local ferry heads out to one of several destinations within the large harbor.

As we passed by the bridge, we focused our cameras on the people who've paid a lot of money for the privilege of climbing to the top--no cameras allowed up there, but it must be a great view. 

 
There were at least two open-air weddings today with views of the harbor, opera house and bridge.  This part of town is on two levels with the upper level servicing the bridge and bluffs, while the lower part is the waterfront area. There are lots of stairs and elevated roadways. 

Didgeridoo players in Aboriginal garb worked the populated plazas. Markets sold a wide variety of goods from produce to art or even chess pieces with an Australian theme--koalas for pawns, the opera house for rooks and kangaroos for knights.

  
Historic buildings contrast with modern skyscrapers. The Rocks is a row of brick structures that started out as the main prison here (Various European countries used Australia as a penal community.), but now each block serves as a restaurant, both in the buildings and out under the tents overlooking the harbor.

   
In the afternoon, we were still too early for the mass flying of the foxes, so we continued over to the other side of the park, which is called The Domain. We stopped to admire this carved wooden statue, which is also a slit drum, which was used for long distance communications by the aborigines. 

 
A large party with a driving, loud drumbeat mixed by a DJ had taken over a large section of The Domain side of the garden. The boats anchored just off-shore absorbed the deafening ambiance without paying the admission fee. People were still streaming in after we'd walked out to the point and back. This White-Faced Heron did not seem to mind the noise.

Finally, it was late afternoon so we headed back to watch the foxes do their thing.

They were beginning to stir and a few dropped from their hanging spots and flew short distances and reperched. To land, they grab onto a bare branch and whip around the branch as they settle back into a hanging position. The guy in the left photo is hanging by just 3 toes--it stayed that way as long as we watched it.

We stayed until after 7pm and we never did see a mass flight, but it was fun to watch them as they started to stir when they would stretch one wing and then another.  They unfurled and refurled their wings many times before they finally took off and flew their separate ways. We headed back to the ship; our necks were stiff from looking up for so many hours.

 
We went back out in the evening and saw two wedding receptions/parties in waterfront restaurants, but mainly we headed out to see the lighted opera house. Luna Park across the harbor was a surprise. The next day we'll head out to some of the beaches via ferries and buses.

Dean's Log: Days 46-50